Cow-stable appliance.



W. J. PFEIFBR.

00W STABLE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1913.

1,097,667. Patented May 26,1914. v

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I Q k3 l M fizz Mg COLUMBIA PLANCIGRAPH CO WASHINGTGN, D. :4

W. J. PFEIPER. 00W STABLE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I r COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0.,wA$mNOTON, D. c.

W. J. PFEIFER. 00W STABLE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, 191s.

Patented May 26, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

coLUMBb. PMNOGIAPH $0.. wAsmNn'roN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIdl l.

WILLIAM if. PFEIFER, OF MELROSE PARK, ILLINOIS.

COW STABLE APPLIANCE.

Application filed September 8, 1913.

To all whomit' may concern:

is it known that l, WILLiAM J. Prinrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cow- Stable Appliances, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective appliance adapted for use in connection with the stalls of cow-stables, which shall be so constructed as to enable the stall to be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, said device being provided with a litter receiver so constructed and combined with a stanchion and other parts as to enable it to automatically move with and maintain a predetermined relation to the cow while the latter is in the stall, and to be removed at will upon a suitable way and discharged; all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a stall showing my improved device applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a detail taken upon the line 3, Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, Fig. 4: is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line l, Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, and Fig. 5 is a like view taken upon the line 5, Fig. l, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the side supports or vertical posts of an ordinary stall of a cow stable, and 2 horizontal beams running lengthwise of the stall directly beneath the rafters 3. Vertical posts l, 4, Figs. 2 and 4, are provided at the front of the stall, being in alinement with the forward posts 1.

Rigidly secured to the parts 2 and l, above and at the front of the stall, are parallel blocks or plates 5, 5, through which is projected a horizontal rod 6, to which is pivotally suspended a swinging frame composed of parallel bars 7, 7, rigidly connected at their lower ends by means of a transverse Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented l' 'llay Ell, finite.

Serial No. ?E$8,640.

bar 8, Fig. 52, parallel with which, and se cured to the parts i, is a metal bar or loop 9, also shown in Figs. 1 and 4:. Swiveled in a crossbar 10, is a bar ll, which serves as a suspending means for a neck portion of a stanchion, generally designated by 12, comprising separable members 13 and 1d, the former of which. is rigidly attached to the swiveled support 1].. by means of a bent metal connection 15. The members 13 and is are hinged together at 16, and the part 14: is provided with a counterpart bent metal portion 17, which, when the parts are brought together, is adapted to be held in place against the bar 11 by means of a loose locking ring 18, shown in a locking position in Fig. 2, but adapted to be moved upwardly and temporarily suspended when not in use upon a bracket 19, attached to the bar 11. When the ring is thus lifted, the part ll may be moved as shown in Fig. 4:, to provide for the admission or removal of the cows head. When the members are locked together around the neck of the cow, the latter is permitted to exercise freedom of movement in all directions without inconvenience, while the stanchion itself is adaptcd to produce certain requisite movements of other parts which are essential in carrying out the object desired.

Parallel horizontal arms 20, 20, are rigidly attached to the posts at, and rearwardly eittended, between which arms the frame members T are adapted to swing. Levers ill, 21, are pivoted at their lower ends upon a crossbar 22, which is projected through bores in the arms 20. lligidly attached to the frame members 7 and extending rearwardly there from, are arms 23, 23, each having a plurality of corresponding bores 2i therein, which serve as bearings for the journals, of a roller 25, against which the part ill is adapted to bear for the purpose hereinafter stated. The upper ends of the levers :21 are connected by means of bolts :26, to rearwardly extended bars 27, the rear portions of which are in like manner jointedly connected at 28 to reversing members or bars 29, which are also jointedly connected at 30, by means of suitable bolts, to the side-bars of a trolley or car-frame generally designated by 31, which is suspended by means of side brackets 82 from wheels 33 mounted upon elevated tracks supported in turn by the depending frame members The rear ends of the members 29 are cut as shown at 45, is a away so as to provide for the extensions 36, adapted to rest normally upon the rear crossbar 37 of the trolley frame as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. When thus disposed, the rear ends of the members 29 are below the level of the pivotal point 30, and hence upon applying force to the bars 27,, the trolley may, in normal use, he moved either forward or back without displacing or disturbing the members 29. In order to shift the reversing members 29, I connect the bars 27 by means of a cross-bar 29 to which a cord 29 is attached and trained over a pulley 29. Upon pulling the cord, the members 29 are lifted, as shown in Fig. 1, which enables their positions to be partially or wholly reversed in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Rigidly attached to a horizontal member 38, is a transverse horizontal bar 39, upon which is mounted a track 40. A cross-bar 41, Figs. 2 and 5, is suspended by means of hangers 42, and wheels 43 from the track 40. Rigidly attached to the part 41 are depending members 44, 44, which form a part of a carrying frame. Pivotally attached to the lower ends of said members dumping litter carrier 46, the bottom of which is intended to be normally inclined towarc the rear, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Links47 have their forward ends jointly attached at 48 to the forward portion of the carrier, while their rear ends are secured to a cross-bar 49, which bears loosely against the rear of the members 44. Guide members 50 are attached to said members to guide said bar in an up and down movement, said guides being provided with notches 51, 52, for the purpose hereinafter stated. A cord 53 is attached to the bar 49, and is trained through av staple 54, beneath the bar 41, while to the opposite end is secured a handle or ring 55.

Inasmuch as the carrier 46 is suspended from the track 40, it would be free to swing back and forth like a pendulum without actuating the car 31. \Vhile it is desirable not to have it rigid with the car frame, it is essential that when pushed back, it may cause the car to be moved with it. For this purpose I provide a coiled spring 56, the upper end of which is connected with the car at 57, while the lower end is adapted to be detachably secured to one of the memhere 44, by means of a hook 58. A book 59, attached to the part 38, is adapted to engage a staple in the part 41 to normally prevent endwise movement of the carrier upon the track 40. A permanent track 60, Figs. 1 and 5, is located parallel with, but in the rear of the normal position of the track 40 to enable the carrier to be removed, said track being so positioned that when the cord 29 is actuated to lift the reversing members 29, and the carrier is drawn back so that the car 31 will be in an abnormal position, the track 40 will be in alinement with the track 60, in which position it may be secured by means of a. catch 61, as shown in Fig. 5, and upon releasing hook 59 and disengaging the spring 56, the carrier may be removed upon the track 60 for discharge.

It is essential to provide means for preventing the lateral movement of the cow beyond certain predetermined limits within the stall, while giving herample freedom of movement forward and back. I accomplish this result as follows i Tilting or hinged horizontal guards, generally designated by 62, are located upon opposite sides of the stall. Each of said guards consists of a flat board which is made wider at the rear, as shown at 63. A long, horizontally disposed staplelike rod 64, Figs. 1 and 3, is secured to the upper face of the guard near its rear end, and passed loosely through a screw-eye 65 upon one of the side posts 1, while the forward portion of the guard is passed loosely.

through a staple 66. The forward end por tion of the guard is rounded as shown at 67, thereby providing a shoulder 68, to serve as a stop in the manner hereinafter described. A flange 69, better shown in- Figs. 2 and 3. is formed upon the lower face of the rear portion of the guard and adapted to bear against the post 1 to normally hold the guard in the position indicated in Fig. 3, so as to have a slight upward incline. hen both of the side rails are thus disposed, the parts 63 serve as guards to limit the lateral movement of the cow. One object in hinging the guards in this manner is to prevent injury to the cow, should she strike them in getting up. When it is desirable to remove the cow from the stall, the guards are tilted upon their edges and pushed forward, as shown in Fig. 1, when they will be held out of the way in a vertical position until the cow again enters the stall, when they may be drawn back and permitted to fall into normal positions in which they will be held by the shoulders 68.

In order that the device may be adapted in every respect to cows of varying length, I provide means for adjusting the relations of the co-acting parts to each other. For this purpose, among other things, I provide an adjustable manger 70, in the bottom of which is a slot 71, Fig. 2, through which is projected a locking-bolt 72, upon loosening which the manger may be moved forward or back and then fastened. A rear wall 73 is adapted to engage the lower end of the stanchion 12 to limit its forward movement. Holes 74, in the plates 5, 75, in the arms 20 and 76, in the bars 27, as well as the holes 24 in the arms 28, enable varying adjustments to be made, not only to conform to cows of varying length, but to vary the extent of movement of the levers 21 as well,

sothat the carrier may be held in the desired position.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the cow enters the stall and passes her head through the stanchion, the part 17 is placed against the bar 11 and the ring 18 dropped over it. The guards 62 are then drawn back and permitted to fall into the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby limiting the lateral movement of the cow. Should she move backwardly, she will be brought into contact with the carrier, thereby pushing it back proportionately, and the tension of the spring 56 will cause the car 31 to be moved with it. Upon moving forward, her shoulders will press against the stanchion and move it accordingly until limited by the stop 73. The forward movement of the stanchion serves to actuate the frame 7, thereby pressing the roller 25 against the rear faces of the levers 21 and drawing the car 31 and carrier 36 forward through the medium of the bars 27.

When it is desired to remove the carrier, an attendant pulls upon the cord 29, thus lifting the reversing members 29, as shown in Fig. 1, when the car 31 may be drawn back so as to bring the tracks 40 and 60 into alinement where it is locked by the catch 61, and upon releasing the spring 56 and catch 59, the carrier may be moved away upon the track 60 and dumped. By pulling upon the cord 53 until the bar 49 enters the notch 52, the carrier will be in a substantially vertical position. By pulling it farther back and then releasing the bar from the notches, it may be shifted to an inverted position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

1 do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, inasmuch as it may be varied without departing from the principles involved in the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Ina device of the class described, the combination with rigid supports, of an elongated swinging frame member pivoted at its upper end upon a horizontal axis, a horizontal crossbar near the top of said frame, a stanchion suspending bar swiveled at its upper end in said crossbar, said swiveled bar being free to swing laterally, parallel bars across the lower end of said swinging frame between which said swiveled bar is loosely passed, a stanchion neck-member upon the lower end of said swiveled bar, said member being adapted to open and close, means for locking the same closed, rearwardly extended parallel guiding arms upon opposite sides of said swinging frame, a transverse bar atthe rear end thereof tolimit the backward movement of said stanchion, and means in the path of the lower end of said neck-portion to limit its forward movement, whereby said neck-portion may be untrammeled in its movements within predetermined limits.

2. A device of the class described comprising a stanchion arranged to be moved forward and back by the animal secured there in, a trolley mounted upon an elevated longitudinal way extending to the rear of the stall, a carrier suspended therefrom, and means interposed between said trolley and stanchion for moving said carrier forward as a result of the forward movement of the stanchion.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a stall of a stanchion adapted to be moved forward and back, a lever pivoted at its lower end to a stationary point, means operated by said stanchion for actuating said lever as a result of a forward movement of said stanchion, an elevated way arranged longitudinally of the stall, a trolley mounted thereon, means for connecting said lever with said trolley, and a carrier suspended from said trolley.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a stall of a stanchion adapted to be moved forward and back, a lever pivoted at its lower end to a stationary point, means operated by said stanchion for actuating said lever as a result of a forward movement of said stanchion, an elevated way arranged longitudinally of the stall, a trolley mounted thereon, means for connecting said lever with said trolley, a carrier pivotally suspended from said trolley, and means for yieldingly holding said carrier in normal relation to said trolley, whereby, when the former is pushed back, the latter may be moved with it.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a stanchion arranged to be moved forward and back by the animal secured therein, a trolley mounted upon an elevated longitudinal way extending to the rear of the stall, means for operatively connecting said trolley with said stanchion, a track mounted upon and arranged transversely of said trolley, a carrier suspended from wheels mounted upon said track, a transfer track in the rear of the stall, and means for bringing said last named track into alinement with said transfer track.

6. A device of the character set forth, in which is combined a stanchion adapted to be moved forward and back by the animal secured therein, a trolley mounted upon an elevated longitudinal way extending to the rear of the stall, a carrier suspended therefrom, means interposed between said trolley and stanchion for moving said carrier forward as a result of the forward movement of the stanchion, and pivoted guards located upon opposite sides of the stall for limiting the lateral movement of the animal when standing in the stall.

7. A device of the character specified, comprising a stanchion adapted to be moved forward and back by the animal secured therein, an elevated longitudinal way extending to the rear of the stall, a trolley mounted thereon, means for operatively connecting said trolley with said stanchion, a track mounted upon and arranged transversely of said trolley, a carrier suspended from wheels mounted upon said track, a transfer track in the rear of the stall parallel to said last named track, reversing members upon said trolley for permitting the same to be moved rearwardly a predetermined distance, and means for actuating said reversing members.

8. The combination with a stall having a carrier in the rear thereof suspended from an elevated trolley in operative connection with a stanchion movable longitudinally of 20 the stall, of folding side guards having widened portions at the rear, whereby the available width of the stall may be narrowed as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this 25 specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this slxth day of September,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for f ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

